Connor Williams

2nd-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

PRO: The Dallas Cowboys added to a position of strength on the team in the 2018 NFL Draft with the selection of Texas offensive lineman Connor Williams in the second round (50th overall). Williams was a three-year starter at tackle for the Longhorns and became Dallas' starting left guard in training camp. As a rookie, Williams started 10-of-13 games played - and both playoff games - as he helped lead the way for the NFL's rushing champ - Ezekiel Elliott, 1,434 yards. Williams showed vast improvement in his second season, but it was cut short as he tore an ACL on Thanksgiving Day that landed him on Reserve/Injured. He started 11 games before his season-ending knee injury and returned in 2020 as the only offensive lineman to start all 16 games, missing just one snap on the season. It was also the first time in his short career that he played in all 16 contests.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY:

12/1/19: Placed on Reserve/Injured with a knee injury.

4/27/18: Drafted in the second round (50th overall) by Dallas.

2020:

• Started all 16 games for the first time in his career, missing just one snap for an offense that saw four starting quarterbacks on the season.
• Appeared in his 25th game in the season opener at the LA Rams (9/13), then made his 25th career start in the game against Cleveland (10/4).
• Served as a team captain in Week 15 against San Francisco (12/20) when the offense scored a season-high 41 points.

2019:

• Was limited to starting all 11 games he played as knee injuries kept him from five games - four on Reserve/Injured.
• Helped the offense rack up the most single-season total yards (6,904) and total first downs (379) and the second-most passing yards (4,751) in franchise history. Behind the line's work, Dallas led the league in total yards, tied for second in third down conversion rate (47.1), placed second in net passing yards (4,751), tied for fourth in first downs, was fifth in rushing yards (2,153) and allowed 23.0 sacks - second-fewest in the NFL.
• On the season, Dallas had three 500-yard outings - season-high 563 against Green Bay (10/6) - and nine other 400-yard outings. 
• The 12 total 400-plus yard games were a single-season franchise-high, and Dallas' 563 yards against the Packers were fifth in franchise history.
• Blocked for two 100-yard runners (Elliott and Tony Pollard) against Miami (9/22).
• Was inactive/injured at Detroit (11/17), then left the Thanksgiving Day game against Buffalo (11/28) in the second half with a knee injury that landed him on the IR list on Dec. 1.

2018:

• Started 10-of-13 games played, missing two following knee surgery. Also started both playoff contests.
• Helped lead the way for the NFL's rushing leader - Elliott, 1,434 yards.
• Earned the starting left guard job in training camp and made his NFL debut in the opener at Carolina (9/9).
• Blocked for a 100-yard rusher (Elliott, 106) and 100-yard receiver (Cole Beasley, 101) for the first time since at Pittsburgh (11/13/16) as the offense scored on each of its first four possessions against Jacksonville (10/14).
• Stepped in for Zack Martin (knee) in the fourth quarter, helping Dallas to the win against Philadelphia (12/9).
• With Martin (knee) inactive, made his first career start at right guard in the game at Indianapolis (12/16).
• Made his postseason debut in the Wild Card win over Seattle (1/5/19), helping Elliott rush for 137 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries (5.3).

COLLEGE:

• Named Academic All-Big 12 second-team as a junior, starting all five games he played, missing seven due to injury.
• Consensus first-team All-American and first team All-Big 12 as a sophomore, starting at left tackle in 11-of-12 games.
• Named first-team freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, USA Today and ESPN.com.
• Honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league's coaches.
• Started all 12 games at left tackle and blocked for a rushing attack that ranked 18th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 224.8 yards-per-game, including 263.0 yards-per-game in the last seven contests.

PERSONAL:

• An all-state and two-time all-district honoree playing both sides of the ball at Coppell, Texas, High School.
• As a senior recorded 63 pancakes and graded at 94 percent, while only allowing one sack and committing one holding penalty.
• Majored in finance as part of the prestigious McCombs School of Business at Texas.

COMMUNITY:

• 2018 Rookie Club presented by Essilor USA.
• 2018 NFL Draft Character Playbook Hour.
• 2018-19 Dallas Cowboys U High School Camp.
• 2018-20 NFL My Cause My Cleats Campaign.
• 2020 COVID-19 relief.
• 2020 Anti-Bullying student experience with Main Event.
• 2020 Reliant Class Acts Program.
• Annual Holiday Hospital Visits.
• Kick Off Luncheon and Dallas Cowboys Family Cookbook benefiting Happy Hill Farm.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.
• Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program.